The proposed bill establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Program, which aims to provide tuition assistance to eligible dependents of law enforcement officers attending public institutions of higher education in Alabama. The program will be administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and will create the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Fund. Eligible dependents include natural or adopted children under 24 years of age and current or surviving spouses of qualifying law enforcement officers who have resided in Alabama for at least five years. The scholarship will cover tuition and mandatory fees for up to eight semesters or 12 quarters, with a maximum cap of $2,500 per academic period, or $1,500 if the recipient qualifies for a discount due to the officer's employment at a participating institution.

The bill outlines specific eligibility requirements, including the need for applicants to submit documentation proving their relationship to a qualifying law enforcement officer and their acceptance into a participating institution. The scholarship's availability is contingent upon the funds in the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Fund, which will be funded through various sources, including an annual appropriation from the Education Trust Fund not to exceed $10 million starting October 1, 2027. Additionally, the bill introduces a new provision allowing Alabama residents to obtain a blackout license plate for an additional fee of $50, which will be partially allocated to the scholarship fund. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-21-220, 36-21-220, 36-21-221, 36-21-222, 36-21-223, 36-21-224, 36-11-223, 36-11-222, 36-11-222, 36-21-225, 36-21-226, 36-21-227, 41-4-80, 41-4-96, 41-19-1, 41-19-12
Enrolled: 36-21-220, 36-21-220, 36-21-221, 13A-11-38, 36-21-222, 36-21-227, 36-21-223, 36-21-224, 36-21-223, 36-21-222, 36-21-225, 36-21-226, 36-21-227, 41-4-80, 41-4-96, 41-19-1, 41-19-12, 32-6-64, 32-6-67, 32-6-68